Sound accompaniment for composite motion pictures



Nov. 6, 1934. F1 w JACKMAN 1,979,937

SOUND ACCOMPANIMENT FOR COMPOSITE MOTION PICTURES Filed May 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

CIA/61 V ,Bventor; @1522 A/JmK/m/v.

Nov. 6, 1934. F. w. JACKMAN 1,979,937

SOUND ACCOMPANIMENT FOR COMPOSITE MOTION PICTURES Filed May 23, 1931 2 Sheets-SheeL 2 F )1? seems-j PEUJLCC 7'08.

Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC SOUND ACCOMPANIMENT FOR COMPOSITE MOTION PICTURES Application May 23, 1931, Serial No. 539,487

7 Claims.

The invention relates to sound accompani ment for composite pictures, and has for an object to prepare sound records for a composite picture wherein both foreground and background scenes are represented.

This is accomplished by recording sound appropriate to the background scene, recording sound appropriate to the foreground scene, and in combining said records into a single sound record 10 synchronously related to the composite picture. Both the composite picture and the composite sound record may, therefore, appear side by side on a standard motion picture film, or the composite picture alone may be represented by a 5 single series of pictures on a film and the composite sound record may appear as a single sound track on a phonograph disk.

The invention provides method and means for mixing a selected amount of the sound appropriate to the foreground with a selected amount of the sound for the background, and for monitoring the mixing of these two sounds in proper relation to the component parts of the composite picture.

For further details of the invention, reference may be made to the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates a synchronous camera and recorder for recording a background scene; Fig. 2 illustrates a camera for photographing a composite picture and a synchronously operated recorder for recording one of the components of the composite picture; Fig. 3 illustrates one type of electrical interlock for the motors driving the camera, turntable, etc.; Fig. 4 illustrates an arrangement for preparing a sing e sound record from two series of phonograph records, one series being for the foreground scene, and the other for the background scene; Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 4,

wherein film sound records are employed instead of wax records, as in Fig. 4.

In the drawings, like elements are represented by the same symbol, these symbols representing elements, as follows:

A.Amplifier F.Filter-correcting network or attenuation equalizer M.Motor P. E. C.-Photoe1ectric cell L.-Lamp L. S.--Loud speaker V.-Light valve Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a background scene which is to be combined with the foreground scene or action 2 to produce a composite picture of these two scenes. The background scene 1 is photographed by camera 3 and the sound emitted by the background scene may be picked up by the microphone 4 and led to the wax recorder 5 or to the film recorder 6. The motor 7 driving the turntable of the wax recorder and the motor 8 driving the film of the film recorder are operated in synchronism with the motor 9 driving the camera 3. Instead of recording the sound emitted by the background scene, sounds similar or appropriate thereto may be produced in the studio and records made therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 2, the action 2 is illuminated by lamps 10 with light of a selected color, such as yellow, this action taking place before a plain background or drape 11 which is ultramarine blue in color and illuminated with white light from the lamps 12. The camera 13 which photographs the action 2 before the ground 11 contains pan- 7 chromatic negative film before which is placed a positive print of the background scene 1 and dyetoned yellow, as it is now understood in the art. This composite picture may, however, be photographed in other ways. The sound emitted by 8 the actors or action 2 is picked up by the microphone 14 and led to the wax recorder 5 or to the film recorder 6 in Fig. 2, these records being similar to the records described in connection with Fig. 1 and being operated in synchronism with camera 13.

Referring to Fig. 3, the motors for the camera, turntable and film recorder may be interlocked or kept in synchronism by the arrangement here shown, and wherein the D. C. motor 15, which is compensated and speed regulated, drives a distributor D. This distributor, as well as the motors 16 and 1'7, is provided with a three-phase field winding energized from a supply line 18, and each of these machines is provided with three slip-rings and brushes, whereby corresponding separated points on the armatures thereof are inter-connected. It is not essential that the particular interlock system shown in Fig. 3 be employed, as simple synchronous motors may be used instead.

Referring to Fig. 4, the wax records 19, 20 and 21 constitute a series of sound records which were made in synchronism with a motion picture (or three sets of motion pictures) of the background scene 1. Similarly, the wax records 22, 23 and 24 constitute a series of sound records taken in synchronism with and recording the sound emitted by the action 2. The records in each of these series are sequentially connected through suitthrough their respective amplifiers and filters to the mixers 27 and 28, respectively. Selected amounts of the sound currents are led from the mixer 2'7-28 to the wax recorder 5 and the film recorder 6. The mixer 2728 is adjusted in accordance with the play-back loud speaker 29 and in accordance with the composite picture projected on screen 30 by projector 31, which operates in synchronism with the records 5 and 6 and with the motors driving the turntables for records 19'to 24, inclusive.

By means of the patching plug 32-32 the sound film records 33, 34 and 35 of Fig. 5 may be substituted for the wax records 22, 23 and 24. The switches 36 and 37 of Fig. 5 correspond to the switches 25 and 26 of Fig. 4 and perform a similar function. The patching plug 32' may be connected to itself so that the circuit in Fig. 5 will be complete in itself instead of patching this circuit to the circuit in Fig. 4, as above described. The motors similar to 38 in Fig. 5 for driving the sound film reproducers are connected for operation in synchronism with the motors for driving the wax recorder 5, the film recorder 6 and the projector 31. The film records 33, 34 and 35 may correspond to the wax records 19, 20 and 21, and the film records 39, 40 and 41 may correspond to the wax records 22, 23 and 24.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the above arrangement overcomes a defect which would exist if sound appropriate to both the foreground and background components of the composite picture were recorded at the same time, for in that case it would be necessary to effect a compromise in the condition of the recording circuit, with respect to the two separate sources of sound, for it could not be ideally conditioned with respect to both at the same time. By the above arrangement, however, the sound appropriate to the foreground is recorded separately and independently with respect to the other sound component whereby the recording circuit may be conditioned ideally at difierent times and under different conditions .for recording the separate sources of sound.

It will be apparent that various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method which comprises photographing a background scene, recording sound therefor, photographing a foreground scene, separately recording sound therefor separately from said sound recording for said background scene, combining said foreground and background scenes into a composite picture, and combining said recordings into a composite sound record.

2. The method which comprises photograph ing a background scene, thereafter preparing a sound record appropriate thereto, photographing a foreground scene and simultaneously and sepable switching means 25 and 26, respectively,

arately recording the sound emittedby said foreground scene, combining the photographs into a composite picture, and combining said recordings into a single sound record in synchronous relation to said composite picture.

3. The method which comprises recording sound appropriate to a background scene, recording sound appropriate to a foreground scene, projecting said background and foreground scenes antd mixing said recordings in accordance therewi h.

4. The method which comprises photographing a background scene, producing thereby a positive print of said background scene, preparing a record of sounds appropriate to said background scene, photographing a foreground scene, preparing a separate record of 'sound in synchronism with said foreground scene, producing a composite motion picture from said positive print and the photographing of said foreground scene, and combining said separate sound records into a single sound record synchronously related to said photographing of the foreground action.

5. The method which comprises separately photographing foreground and background scenes, separately recording sound appropriate to said foreground and background scenes respectively, effecting one of said sound recordings in synchronism with its associated scene, producing a composite picture from said separate photographings, translating said recordings into electric currents respectively, combining said electric currents, and in translating the combined electriccurrents into a composite soundrecord synchronously related to the photographing of the action of said foreground scene.

6. Apparatus for rerecording sounds for the foreground and background picture components of a composite motion picture, which comprises a sound record synchronously related to the foreground picture component, a sound record appropriate to the background picture component, means for translating both of said sound records into electric currents respectively, means for combining said currents, a sound recorder, and means for energizing said sound recorder by said combined currents, whereby a single sound record synchronously related to the components of said picture is produced from said separate records.

7. The method which comprises projecting a composite picture, comprising foreground and background picture components, and synchronously therewith translating into electric currents sound recordsfor said foreground and background components respectively, mixing said currents in various proportions appropriate to the picture components of said projected composite picture and translating the mixed currents into a sound record in synchronism with said composite picture.

FRED W. JACKMAN. 

